The Visitor Center is your one stop shop. You’ll find a variety of tourism/travel related services including a vast assortment of local and statewide publications, maps, and other travel information promoting all that the state has to offer.

Need a map? Want suggestions for dinner? Looking for a farmers market or swap meet in the area? Wondering about roads to take and roads to avoid, roadside attractions, hiking trails, nature centers, museums, scenic roads, or weather related information? Need help planning activities or booking a tour?

Also begin your exploration of national parks and state parks at the visitor center. Here you can pick up a park map or newspaper, view a film, tour the museum and displays, have your questions answered by a ranger, and purchase books and guides to the park.

Many parks offer guided tours and ranger talks. For the children there is a fun and educational Junior Ranger Program.
Regional and city visitors centers help identify interesting and worthwhile activities with which to fill your visit to the area, nature trails, museums, hidden parks, quiet little exhibits, and interesting free things to do.

Even in towns where you might expect to find a fair amount of interesting history or things to visit, a stop at a visitor’s center can uncover many things you never expected to find.

Visitor centers are great for directions, but also getting information from locals.

Visitor’s centers can also be a great resource for people who want to discover more about their own community. First, check the visitor’s center in the city or town where you live, as well as the center in nearby communities. Unless you’re incredibly well-grounded in your home community, you’ll be amazed at the gems you uncover—parks, walking trails, historical exhibits, cultural attractions, museums, nature centers, and more.

During our many years of RV travel we normally stop at state welcome centers as we enter the state. While each is unique in its offerings and services, several stand out as exemplary.

Texas Travel Information Centers create a positive first impression of the Lone Star State. Their 12 Travel Information Centers are staffed by professional travel counselors who welcome visitors to Texas, help with routings, and provide information on points of interest, events, and road conditions.

In tribute to the citrus industry which historically has been a major part of Florida’s economy, every visitor is offered a free cup of Florida citrus juice (orange or grapefruit).

Kentucky Welcome Centers

Kentucky Welcome Centers are staffed by friendly travel consultants who offer Kentucky maps and brochures, answer questions, and suggest itineraries to enjoy during your stay. Eight welcome centers are located on the four major interstates in Kentucky.

No matter where you’re headed in the Palmetto State, you’ll find everything you need to know and more at one of nine South Carolina Welcome Centers. Travel counselors are available to assist visitors with tourist and attraction information, free reservation services, maps, trail guides, discount coupons, and much more.

Georgia State Information Centers

Georgia’s 12 official state visitor information centers provide a warm welcome to more than 13 million guests each year. Pick up travel brochures, travel tips and find friendly trip-planning assistance when you stop by. In addition to state visitor centers, you’ll also find local and regional visitor information centers all over Georgia.

As the first points of contact with more than 6 million visitors each year, eight Alabama Welcome Centers greet travelers with true hospitality. The mission of Alabama Welcome Centers is to achieve a positive impression of Alabama by assisting and informing the traveling public in a knowledgeable and courteous manner in order to enhance and extend their visit.

Tennessee Information Centers

Get the most out of your Tennessee travels by taking in the sights with no worries about where to stop for information, snacks and breaks. Tennessee operates 14 Welcome Centers and maintains brochures in 18 Rest Areas across the state. Both sets of facilities are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, except for I-40 Shelby County (Memphis) Welcome Center, which is closed every evening.

The Welcome Centers in Mississippi are attractions unto themselves, each built to resemble the antebellum structures for which the state is famous. Each is beautifully decorated with fine antique furnishings from the period. Neatly manicured grounds feature picnic tables and grills, telephones, RV waste disposal facilities, 24-hour security, restrooms, and weather information. Motor coach parking is available, as well as complimentary refreshments. Regular hours at all Welcome Centers are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.

Do you ever stop in visitor centers while road tripping? If not, you’re missing a great travel resource.

Worth Pondering…

We often live for those unusual landmarks and off-the-beaten-path places that make RVing so extraordinary. And we all know that sometimes getting there is all the fun.